Defend

[L. Fr. defendre, defender.] In old statutes and treatises. To prohibit or forbid.

LL.

Edw. Conf. c.

37. Stat. Westm. 1, c. 1, 6. Stat. 5 Ric. II. c.

7. "It is defended [forbidden] by law to distrain in the highway."

Co. Litt. 161. Cowell.

Chaucer uses this word in the same sense: Where can you say in any manner age, That ever God defended marriage? Prol. Wife of Bath. DEFEND is used in conveyancing in its popular sense; viz. in clauses of warranty at the conclusion of deeds, — "shall and will warrant, and forever defend."

See Defendemus.